KEY POINTS:
Weekday test rugby matches have been kind to the All Blacks and tomorrow's one-off match against Samoa in New Plymouth should provide no exception.
New Zealand's record in tests not played over the weekend stands at a healthy 19 from 23 and it seems certain that will improve at Yarrow Stadium, in what will be their sixth Wednesday fixture.
Their only Wednesday defeat was 16-20 to Australia at Sydney in 1994, the match that ended when George Gregan dislodged the ball from the grasp of All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson as he dived for the tryline.
The introduction of World Cup tournaments in 1987 has seen the number of midweek fixtures escalate.
That year saw the All Blacks down Fiji 74-13 at Christchurch in their first Wednesday test while the most recent ended with a 34-9 defeat Wales at Johannesburg in 1995.
Wednesday trails the eight tests that have been played on Friday while there have been four tests on both Monday and Thursday and just two on Tuesday.
Sunday has harboured 22 All Blacks tests but Saturday continues to stretch out a commanding lead, currently sitting on 392.
Days of the week for the All Blacks' 437 test rugby matches:
392: Saturday
22: Sunday
8: Friday
5: Wednesday
4: Monday, Thursday
2: Tuesday
Wednesday test results:
May 31, 1995: bt Wales 34-9 at Johannesburg (WC)
Aug 17, 1994: lost to Australia 16-20 at Sydney
April 22, 1992: bt World 15 54-26 at Wellington
Oct 30, 1991: bt Scotland 13-6 at Cardiff (WC)
May 27, 1987: bt Fiji 74-13 at Christchurch (WC)
- NZPA
